1st Grade Teacher
Lorie Beck was born Pennsylvania and raised in a small town outside of Philadelphia. After high school she moved to Lancaster to attend Millersville University to study education with a major in Special Education. She taught at a middle school there for three years. Lorie traveled around the country for 2 months, fell in love with Missoula, and moved there the following summer. She has been here for 11 years and dearly loves this community. A week after moving to Missoula, Lorie was offered a Special Education teaching position with Missoula County Public Schools. She piloted two new specialized classrooms and was with the district for six years. Wanting to explore a different learning environment, Lorie taught at the Missoula Community School for two years. Lorie now finds herself at Sussex and feels this is an ideal place for her to combine her love of teaching and desire to foster a sense of community and compassion. Lorie also is the creator of Montana Earth Herbs, a small local business that promotes the full cycle of herbalism, from the plant to the product.
What is your teaching philosophy? I believe children learn best with a combination of direct instruction to learn specific skills and opportunities to explore their interests, school and community. It is important to recognize that learning can be challenging but it should still always be fun and exciting. The foundation of education is community and a sense of belonging.
Is there anyone in particular who has inspired you as a teacher? My students!
What was your most rewarding experience as a teacher? I love the moments when you can actually "see" a child make a connection. For example, I was teaching the kindergarten group letter sounds and then we blended them to make a word and all the children had an expression that said "so, that's how you do it!" When children begin to read that is probably my most exciting and rewarding moment.
What do you love most about teaching? I love the different relationships I have with each child. The thing I love most about teaching kindergarten, is that the whole world is a classroom. Kindergarten age age children are motivated and enthusiastic about learning so teaching is easy and fun. I love that life itself presents endless teachable moments. I love that children smile and laugh easily and often.
What do you like to do when you are not teaching? I love to garden and spend time outside, hiking and camping. I am also a big fan of exercise, sleeping and eating. It seems I never have enough time to spend with my dear friends and family.
Who is the person you admire most in the world? My sister.
“The foundation of a meaningful education is building a strong community and helping children develop a sense of belonging. With a strong foundation in
place, learning is easy, fun and always exciting.”
- Lorie Beck, Kindergarten Teacher